News and Events

Past and current events

May 2019

Chinese Whispers™️3 takes the stage!

An empowering, inclusive and progressive way to learn Chinese

The University’s Confucius Institute (CI) took to the stage its third Chinese Whispers™️concert attended by over 300 people from the local and international community.

This year’s concert focused on community engagement and saw creative performances from young children of Nafferton Primary School to secondary pupils of Howden School and a Beverley Community Choir. All performers were ably trained and directed by the Confucius Institute’s Music and Mandarin teacher, Ma Ruiyang, and were supported by music colleagues in the School of Arts and language teachers from the Confucius Institute and Chinese Studies.

All performers raised to the challenge of learning new language and culture skills through Chinese songs with remarkable and moving results.

Entering its 3rd year, the Chinese Whispers™️ concert continues to celebrate its transformative approach of teaching Chinese through music. Held in the Middleton Hall, the interdisciplinary event included a rich variety of performances also involving University students and academics.

The concert took place in conjunction with the visit of a senior delegation from Tianjin Normal University – close international academic partner of the University – and from the Chinese Consulate General (Manchester) who commented on the high quality and originality of the performances.

Professor Burgess, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who attended the event, commented: ‘The Chinese Whispers™️ concert is a concrete example of the value of partnership amongst academics, students and the local and global community. It delivered an enjoyable intercultural and interdisciplinary programme to a large audience, and brought together people from different cultural backgrounds and age groups, creating a truly empowering and inclusive experience for students, staff and the wider community’.

February 2019

Confucius Institute in the media

February marked a busy and fruitful month for the Confucius Institute (CI). Its rich variety of Chinese New Year events not only built bridges to engage with the University community and members of public, but also attracted media attention.

During the month-long celebration period, CI members of staff were invited to attend interviews with BBC Radio Humberside’s Breakfast show and Culture Night show, talking about Chinese New Year and its customs and culture. The CI’s popular Chinese Calligraphy course and traditional spring couplet writing were also featured in a video on the BBC’s social media platform.

Entering its third year since it was founded in 2016, the Confucius Institute has made more then 10 appearances on the press. This has resulted to an increasing number of requests and academic collaborations made by other local communities such as schools, interest groups and organisations. With its Chinese expertise and knowledge, the CI is proud to be the first port of call when it comes to raising awareness of language learning and cultural understanding.

Professor Marina Mozzon-McPherson, Director of the Confucius Institute, said: ‘It is positive to see how the increased interest for Chinese language across the region, embracing all sectors from primary and secondary schools to local business and the wider community, matched by now a good presence in the media too. We have more interesting cultural events in the months to come which we hope will attract equal interest!’

To learn more about the Confucius Institute, please contact ciuh@hull.ac.uk for further details.

December 2018

The “Chinese Calligratree” on Display at

Beverley Minster

For the second year in a row the Confucius Institute took part in the Beverley Minster’s Christmas tree sponsoring project. More than 6,500 visitors saw the Chinese Calligratreewhich celebrated the ancient art form of calligraphy. University students and learners of Chinese attending our short courses were invited to add Chinese calligraphy and ink paintings onto traditional western baubles. The result was a magic fusion of Eastern and western culture that captured lots of attention.

Soon after the event, a Christmas card featuring one of the photos of the Chinese Calligratree was created.

We takes this opportunity to wish all our students and supporters a very joyful and peaceful Christmas and a Happy 2019 (The Year of the Pig).

September 2018

University of Hull signs multilateral agreement with Tianjin Normal University

A delegation of the University of Hull, led by Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Glenn Burgess, has recently been invited to attend China’s Tianjin Normal University for their 60thAnniversary celebrations.

Alumni, current staff and students, representatives of Tianjin Normal University’s partner institutions, and their Confucius Institutes took part in an impressive two-day celebratory event reviewing the University’s achievements and marking their commitment to future developments aligned to their priorities of excellence and innovation, internationalisation and academic partnerships.

Tianjin Normal Universityhas over 30,000 students, including over 4,000 Postgraduates. It is ranked as one of China’s best teacher training universities and has a long established track record of excellence in subjects including Education, Chinese Language and Literature, Political Science and History.

The celebrations were opened with the formal signing of a multilateral agreement including Hull among the 9 partner universities. Other signatories included the universities of Saskatchewan (Canada), Nairobi (Kenya), Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat (Thailand), Finland University, Heidelberg University (U.S.A) and Nicholas Copernicus University (Poland).

Facilitated by our Confucius Institute, academic partnerships are now being explored with a range of subject areas. Student and staff exchanges are being strengthened. One visiting scholar from Applied Linguistics has recently been welcomed at Hull and a second scholar from TNU History Department is planning to join the University in the course of the 2018/19 academic year.

Professor Burgess commented: ‘It was a great pleasure to have attended Tianjin Normal University‘s 60th celebrations, and to collaborate with such a dynamic, global institution. We look forward to building from our existing constructive links and to exploring new opportunities in teaching, scholarship and research.’

To learn more about the Confucius Institute and its programmes, please contact the team at ciuh@hull.ac.uk

July-August 2018

Summer Offerings from the Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute (CI) has had its busiest summer so far, providing a variety of tailor-made programmes to colleagues, graduates, prospective students, and young people across the region. These sessions were beneficial to those who wished to expand their knowledge and experience of a different culture, and those who needed support with their Chinese language practice whether in a business or an education context.

Striving for an approach which is people-centred, and mindful of diversity, the Confucius Institute is proud to serve as a dynamic centre for language learning, as well as a window to Chinese culture, open to all. In June, by popular demand, the CI designed a special Chinese Language and Culture Day to 14 members of staff from the FACE Student Hub and Student Services Directorate.

During the July graduation week, the CI teamed up with the Education Department, and conducted a campus tour to a group of distance-learning graduates who came to attend their graduation ceremonies from Hong Kong. This was followed by another cultural event tailored exclusively to Brynmor Jones Library staff, as part of their professional development programme.

Throughout July, the Confucius Institute has also worked with School and Colleges Liaison Service, and provided an array of interactive outreach activities to groups of aspiring students. More than 160 young people joined our taster sessions and had a chance to learn some basic Mandarin as well as making traditional Chinese arts and crafts.

“The sessions delivered by the Confucius Institute have been a wonderful addition to our Taste of Uni days, aimed at Year 10 students from across Yorkshire and Humberside. The sessions have been informative and engaging, and have helped raise awareness of studying languages in Higher Education.” said Vicki Russell from the School and Colleges Liaison Service.

Finally, the Confucius Institute was one of the exhibitors at the EU-China Symposium on Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Phase Change Energy Storage Technologieswhich was attended by some 150 delegates from China and all over the world. Once again this was a distinctive presence at a prestigious academic event illustrating our contribution to support good relations between UK and Chinese institutions.

And the interest in our Confucius Institute’s Chinese Language and Culture activities continues throughout the summer months when our CI will participate in a summer crafts day for children hosted at the beautiful Burton Constable Hall. The crafts day will take place on 17 August. During the STEM Immersion Week, on 17 September, four Mandarin teachers from our CI will assist with interpreting for a large group of Chinese children who will visit the STEM event and attend a series of programmes with Computer Science.

Professor Marina Mozzon McPherson, Director of the CI, said: ‘Our Confucius Institute with its distinctive focus on innovation and creativity and its coherent programme of activities linking teaching, outreach, research and enterprise continues to make its presence felt within the local and academic community and plans for 2018 include even more exciting initiatives.’

June 2018

CI Team Enjoy the Rowing Success at Salford Quays

The Confucius Institute at the University of Hull (CIUH) team joined hundreds of daring paddlers to compete in the annual dragon boat race at Salford Quays on Sunday 17 June.

Teaming up with three other Confucius Institutes, the CIUH team took to the water and raced against 31 boats that were each made up of 10 paddlers and a drummer.

Supported by the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in Manchester and organised by Xinhua Chinese Association, the event attracted thousands of spectators who enjoyed the race and Chinese cultural performances, such as dragon dances and martial arts displays.

Dragon boat racing started in China about 2,000 years ago. It was introduced to the UK in the 1990s as a community activity, and later developed into a water sport that attracts visitors from far and wide.

May 2018

Students and Supporters Enjoy a Range of Springtime Programmes

It has been an amazing springtime for the Confucius Institute. Three major programmes were run smoothly and successfully, thanks to everyone who took part and supported us in many different ways. More to come this summer!

April 2018

Chinese Studies student

wins national proficiency award

Luke Moreton, a final year student, was handed the Most Knowledgeable award at a national Chinese proficiency competition held in London thanks to a joint effort by the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, and the Confucius Institute.

Chosen by his course lecturers to enter to the semi-final of the 17th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students—UK 2018, Luke received guidance and tutorials by the Confucius Institute teachers only two months prior to the competition.

The event took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. Luke beat more than 30 contestants and won the Most Knowledgeable award, demonstrating his Chinese language proficiency skills, knowledge of China, as well as a comprehensive range of abilities and expertise through a cultural performance.

Luke commented: “I am honoured to have represented the University of Hull in the Chinese Bridge competition. It was such a great experience to be able to meet other students from across the country who have shared similar experiences of living in China and learning Chinese. Mandarin is possibly the most difficult subject I have ever studied, but that is also why I love it so much; there is always more to learn and the rich culture that comes with it is absolutely fascinating. I’d also like to thank the Confucius institute at Hull for all their help in preparing me for the competition.”

Yu Hongshan, one of the Confucius Institute Mandarin teachers who mentored Luke throughout his Chinese Bridge journey, said: “When I first met Luke, he already showed very good Chinese proficiency. As a bright, young person who is hard-working and has travelled to China many times, Luke had a good chance to win. I am very glad he did win the award; he definitely deserved it.”

The Chinese Bridge Competition is a high profile international contest organised by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban). Since its launch in 2002, this annual event has attracted more than 300,000 HE students from over 80 countries to participate in the competition, of which more than 1,200 have been invited to China to attend further contests.

This year’s event offers additional unique career-seeking opportunities for students who have Chinese language proficiency. To this purpose, Managing Directors and HR Directors of leading UK based Chinese enterprises and companies were invited to attend the event, meet the able contestants and winners and create formal, and informal, contexts for potential work experience, and internships.

Luke’s win has no doubt opened up his future career pathways. It has also enriched his experience as a degree student in the University. Luke and other winners were invited to a reception at the Chinese Embassy in London providing further access to useful networks.

To learn more about Luke Moreton and his Chinese Bridge journey, please contact the Confucius Institute.

March 2018

The Chinese Whispers Concert hits the right note

To mark the traditional Chinese spring festival, the University’s Confucius Institute launched a debut concert held at the Middleton Hall that attracted more than 350 people. The audience enjoyed an array of Chinese and western music and songs performed by staff, students, and local school pupils. To everyone’s surprise, the Chinese Consul General sang a song as a finale to mark the close of the evening.

The concert on 12 March featured three choirs of non-Chinese speakers trained to sing in Chinese. Two of them are from local schools, as well as the Confucius Institute’s Chinese Whispers Choir. It also featured works by staff and students who performed in Beijing and Tianjin last summer, including pieces at the Temple of Heaven Echo Wall. It showcased the first results of the Institute’s work in the University and the community to innovate in the teaching of Chinese.

The Vice-Chancellor Professor Susan Lea attended the high profile musical event and commented: “The concert was very enjoyable and I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the performers. It was a privilege to welcome Dr Sun Dali, the Chinese Consul General, and to hear him sing so beautifully as part of his closing address. The concert provided an opportunity to showcase the excellent work of the Confucius Institute, and the Chinese Whispers project in particular, in promoting understanding of Chinese language and culture.”

The Chinese Whispers Concert was another positive outcome of the Confucius Institute’s award-winning project (Higher Education Academy – Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 2016), which seeks to teach Chinese language through the medium of music and singing.

A brainchild of Professor Marina Mozzon-McPherson, Director of the Confucius Institute, the project started as a collaborative project involving academics from two disciplines (music and languages), diverse cultural backgrounds, various professions (choir master, composers, music conductors, teacher trainers and technicians), and different stages of the educational journey (students, teachers, lecturers and professors). It is now extended to include schools as well as other musicians and linguists outside the academic community.

“The concert was a powerful example of creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in action and it is already generating a ripple effect amongst colleagues and in the wider community. Following this positive engagement we are now planning our next Chinese Whispers event. Watch this space.”, said Professor Mozzon-McPherson.

Staff, students and University partners are welcome to join the Chinese Whispers. To find out more about the project and the work of Confucius Institute, please visit www.hull.ac.uk/confucius or email ciuh@hull.ac.uk

–end–

February 2018

Celebrate the Year of the Dog

with the Confucius Institute

Chinese New Year falls on the 16 February, and to mark the Year of the Dog, we are running a variety of activities on campus.

A one-day Chinese language and culture taster session (0900-1530), where you can learn some basic Mandarin and have experience of making Chinese art and music, will kick off the celebrations on 9 February.

On 12 February, we’re also holding our popular dumpling-making workshop. You can learn the skill of making northern Chinese style dumplings (jiaozi), and enjoy them over tea.

On 14 February there will be Chinese Hour, where you can join an informal Mandarin conversation session; and the Chinese Film Club with a special screening to mark the festive period.

A special concert performed by the CI’s choir Chinese Whispers, will mark the finale of the celebrations on 12 March. Several school partners will also be participating in the performances to be held in Middleton Hall.

All events are free.

Booking is absolutely essential due to their popularity and limited places.

Date

Event

Time

Location

Fri 9 Feb

Chinese Language and Culture Day

0900-1530

The Courtyard Multi Function Room

Mon 12 Feb

Chinese Dumpling-making Workshop*

1200-1400

The Courtyard Multi Function Room

Wed 14 Feb

Chinese Hour

1600-1700

Resources Room, Dennison Centre

Wed 14 Feb

Chinese Film Club

1800-2030

Conference Room, Dennison Centre

Mon 12 March

Chinese Whispers New Year Concert

1700-1800

Middleton Hall

*Meat and nut based ingredients will be used

To book or learn more about our special Chinese New Year programmes, please get in touch with us.Email: ciuh@hull.ac.uk Telephone: +44(0)1482 462197

February Highlight – Chinese Language and Culture Day – Chinese New Year Special – Free!This one-day taster programme will cover some basic Chinese such as pronunciations, greetings, numbers as well as gaining an insight into Chinese culture. A complimentary lunch and class materials are included. All are welcome. Places are limited; please contact us to sign up or register your interests.

Nov 2017

13 NovemberTraditional Chinese Medicine LecturesAre you interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine? Do you find acupuncture intriguing? Come along to our special lecture event on 13 November at , which takes place at Cohen 041 at 09:30-11:00, University of Hull. Two guest speakers, Professor Wang Yanhui and Professor Qian Xiaoyan, both from Xiamen University, China, will share their knowledge on acupuncture and auricular therapy, as well as demonstrating the technique of these century-old treatments. Call 01482-462197 to book your place or contact li.wang@hull.ac.uk for more details.

10 NovemberChinese Language and Culture Day –Free!We will be running our popular language and culture day throughout the year, to meet the demands. This one-day taster class will cover some basic Chinese such as pronunciations, greetings, numbers as well as gaining an insight into Chinese culture. A complimentary lunch and class materials are included. All are welcome. Please contact us to reserve a place.

6-10 NovemberConfucius Institute Day –Free!Following the success of the Confucius Institute Day events last month, the Institute will roll out further language and culture programmes as a contribution to the Degree Plus + Week.The Confucius Institute will be holding a series of activities at various locations throughout the campus. Each day from 6-10 November, there are programmes for those who wish to learn some Chinese through cultural activities.Staff and students can get a hands-on experience such as making Chinese dumplings in the Master-Chef style kitchen at the Courtyard. Paper cutting, Chinese games. Chinese film screenings are also on offer during the week. The popular Chinese Language and Culture Day will take place on 10 October to mark the finale of the CI Week.All the CI Week events are free for students, staff as well as the general public.Booking is needed for some of the programmes; please see attached poster for more details. For further information, email ciuh@hull.ac.uk or ring 01482-462197.

Autumn/winter 2017 special

18 October/15 November/13 December 15:00-16:00The Analects of Confucius – a lecture series by Dr Liu AijuThe Analects of Confucius are a collection of teaching and thoughts of Confucius. They include twenty books, each generally featuring a series of chapters that encompass quotes from Confucius, which were compiled by his disciples after his passing. Dr Liu, a lecturer of Chinese Studies at University of Hull, will give an insight into the compelling story of Confucius and his philosophy. Everyone is welcome to attend. Location: G/F, Dennison Centre, Cottingham Road

June 2017

9 June Chinese Language and Culture Day

March 2017

10 MarchChinese Language and Culture Day

1, 15 MarchMovie nights at the Chinese Film Club 18:00-20:00We run a Chinese Film Club every fortnight at the Confucius Institute, offering free film-screening sessions to everyone who enjoys movies as well as Chinese culture. After every session, we give a short, informal lecture and invite participants to have a lively conversation about the film. All sessions are free, coffee and tea are included. No need to book, just turn up. Location: Ground floor, Dennison Centre

February 2017

10 February2017 Manchester Chinese New Year GalaOur Chinese Whispers Choir was invited to perform a couple of songs for the prestigious event as special guests, that took place at Manchester Central.

January 2017

20 JanuaryChinese Language and Culture DayOur language and culture day is back by popular demand, and is launched as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations ( 2017 is the Year of the Rooster). This one-day taster class will cover some basic Chinese such as pronunciations, greetings, numbers as well as gaining an insight into Chinese culture. A complimentary lunch and class materials are included. All are welcome. Please contact us to book a place.

November 2016

1-30 NovemberPhoto Exhibition – Time and Space in China: The Urban World of BeijingOrganised by the Confucius Institute at University of Hull, this impressive photo exhibition will be held in the newly renovated gallery at the Brynmor Jones Library. Please come and join us, and enjoy viewing an array of brilliant images of Beijing.

October 2016

18-21 OctoberConfucius Institute WeekTo mark the decade of the founding of the worldwide Confucius Institutes, we are offering a wide range of free activities. From 18-21 October, our programmes will cover traditional Chinese crafts and sports, as well as a film screening held on different locations around the campus.Feel free to contact us if you would like to take part or to have a chat.

17 OctoberChinese Language and Culture Day – Free!This one-day taster programme will cover some basic Chinese such as pronunciations, greetings, numbers as well as gaining an insight into Chinese cultutre. A complimentary lunch and class materials are included. All are welcome. Places are limited; please contact us to sign up or register your interests.

6 OctoberIntermediate Chinese Course – £120For those who have learnt basic Chinese before but would like to enhance their language skills. Starting on 6 October, the intermediate course will also run for 10 weeks. To sign up and secure a place, please contact us.

4 OctoberBeginners’ Chinese Course – £120This evening course is designed for those who have little or no knowledge of the Chinese language. Lessons start on 4 October, and will run for 10 weeks with two hours of tuition each week. To sign up and secure a place, please contact us.

September 2016

15 September The Mid-Autumn Festival DayTo celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, aka Moon Festival, the Confucius Institute will be running a variety of programmes around the campus on 15 September. There will be an exhibition showcasing the origins and meanings behind this traditional festival, and how Chinese people gather together to make the most of this special day. We will also be offering a workshop, where you can learn to make traditional Chinese knotting crafts. The programme will be finished off with a moon cake tasting session and a moon-shaped fan dance presentation.

Contact

For more information on any of these events, or to register a place, please contact us: